Maggiano NBHA, John Deere Super Show -- Las Vegas, NV -- June 7th: Placed 467th spot -- out of  722 riders!!! -- with a 16.454 second ride (top of 4D was 16.191)  ...  winner of 1D was Brittany Campbell's 14.191  ~  Had many new experiences to learn from and did very well for only one month of competition accomplished together at that point!! ________________________________________________________________ Lime St. Hesperia 4D barrels  ---  Jackpot series... Won the 4D Hesperia Horsemen Rodeo Queen buckle for the July series, with an average of 40+ riders and won the 2D buckle for the May series ... not bad at all for Maggiano's first 4 weeks of competition!! ________________________________________

"The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."

Sultan's Midnight Marvel (Roy): CGA, District 30 -- 2001 FC division year end High Point Champion:      Circle Y barrel saddle CGA, District 30 -- 2002 1A division year end High Point Champion:      Tex Tan barrel saddle 2002 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif. -- Top 30 in Open division 2005 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif. -- Top 5 in Open division 2004 Phelan Parade -- 1st place, best Native Costume in the equestrian division

... A look back Even though I began riding years before I knew about her, Sahara Flame became the very first horse I could call my own, soon after my 12th birthday, and we quickly developed a uniquely strong bond from the very beginning.  Even as a four-year-old, she has been the most intelligent horse I have ever crossed paths with.  Accompanied by a delicate beauty, Sahara was also known to possess a fiercely competitive determination.  Through the years she earned several nicknames such as:  Red Fang, Jaws, Little Red Ferrari and Crazy Eyes and was described by my toughest competitor as having “moves like a cat”.  Sahara had a natural burning desire to run and compete, and whatever was lacking in any way in conformation, was more than made up for with pure heart.  Excelling in match racing, barrel racing, pole bending, team penning, endurance and hunter/jumper, Sahara definitely laid the path for me to never only focus on one discipline, but to broaden my goals without limitations.  Although our career together was cut short, we still won more than quadruple her purchase cost, but there could never be a price put on the way she played a role in my developing years.

Regardless of her relatively small stature, she always seemed have a way of standing out and being remembered wherever we went.  She had a passionate hunger for competition and would challenge any size opponent, whether in a pushing match or racing, and knew how to use every inherent quality to her advantage, which I could never teach to a horse.  While there could never be a replacement, the cherished times with my true friend are far from ever being forgotten.  Nearly everything that I now strive to achieve in the equine industry either originated from or is dedicated to My Sahara.    Sahara Flame May 23, 1992 - August 25, 2007   Sahara Flame: 1998 Geo BunBuster 25-mile endurance ride, Norco, Calif --  tied for 2nd in Jr. division (riders 16 & under) 1999 Ridgecrest 30-mile endurance ride, Coso Junction, Calif --  Top 15 in Open division 2000 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif --  Top 10 in the Open division 2001 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif --  Top 10 in the Open division 2003 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif --  Top 5 in the Open division 2004 Davenport Dare 25-mile endurance ride, Little Rock, Calif --  2nd place out of 48 in the Open division CGA, Mojave Narrows district --  2000 3A division year end High Point Reserve Champion CGA, 2005 Spring Classic 3-day, 19 event sho --  3A High Point Reserve Champion (by only 2 points!) out of 40+ riders RHR --  2005 year-end All Around Champion (and Level 1) ... out of 30+ riders District arena records:  Griffith Park - 5 out of 12 Simi Valley - 5 out of 12 Lake Perris - 7 out of 12 RHR --  2006 year-end All Around Champion (and Level 1 Reserve) ... out of 40+ riders District arena records:  Simi Valley - 10 out of 24 Lake Perris - 11 out of 24 RHR --  2007 year-end All Around Champion ... accumulated a total of **66 Level 1 Match Race and 86 Level 1 On Course times** according to matrix in 2007 season alone (Sept. 06 - Aug. 07)!!District arena records:  Thacher (Ojai) - 10 out of 24 Simi Valley - 12 out of 24 Lake Perris - 13 out of 24 Thousand Oaks - 22 out of 24 Bowler Ranch - 24 out of 24 ***Ranked #3 (as of August 24, 2007) - out of almost 100 riders ever to compete in RHR - in overall total money earnings with over $2,750 and had accumulated 35 out of 36 required Level 1 qualifying times in the running to make first ever Hall of Fame Champion ... grand prize = $2,500.   Following season time matrix was later adjusted to much slower qualifying times.